President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. met with key labor leaders this week to reaffirm his administration’s commitment to protecting the rights and welfare of Filipino workers, emphasizing the need for continued dialogue and cooperation between the government and the labor sector.
In a statement posted on Facebook, President Marcos said the administration continues to support “open and substantive discussions” aimed at ensuring decent jobs, adequate wages, and a hopeful future for Filipino families.
“I spoke with our labor leaders to ensure that the rights and welfare of our workers remain protected,” the President said.
“The government continues to support open and meaningful discussions towards dignified work, sufficient wages, and a future with hope for every Filipino family,” he added.
Present at the meeting were Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) president and lawyer Raymond Mendoza and House Deputy Speaker Michael Mendoza, who also serves as national president of the Associated Labor Unions (ALU).
They were joined by National Congress of Unions in the Sugar Industry of the Philippines president Roland dela Cruz; All Workers Alliance Trade Unions president Temistocles Dejon Jr.; Pambansang Kilusan ng Paggawa president Arthur Juego; and Arvin Dolendo, vice president of the Philippine Trade and General Workers Organization.
Also in attendance were ALU-TUCP vice president for national and international affairs Luis Corral, ALU national executive vice president Gerard Seno, ALU national vice president for Luzon Cecilio Seno Jr., Southern Mindanao Federation of Labor representative Archie Capoy, and ALU vice president for administration Rosalo Aragon, along with other senior officials from both ALU and TUCP.
In a statement, Mendoza thanked the president for the dialogue as the group was able to raise serious concerns on the welfare and rights of Filipino workers.
“We thank the President for granting this important audience and listening to the voice of labor,” Mendoza said.
“We trust that the President’s commitment will be matched by concrete executive and legislative support for these critical reforms. Our workers deserve more than lip service—they demand and deserve laws that promote their dignity at work and in life, substantially raise their wages towards true living wages, and create new, permanent, and decent jobs,” he added.
